[ParlTrack]

Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 a (new)

(4a) Modern technological and scientific advances on board vessels stand in contrast to the low standards of training for seafarers, which has for a number of years consisted of pro forma instruction for a cheap maritime workforce, the concern being increased profits for maritime business groups.

2012/04/02
Committee: TRAN

Georgios TOUSSAS

Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 b (new)

(4b) Improved training for seafarers must include all specialist categories among crew members and officers and cover proper theoretical and practical instruction in the safety of human life at sea.

2012/04/02
Committee: TRAN

Georgios TOUSSAS

Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 c (new)

(4c) Rules concerning the manning and construction of vessels present dangers in terms of the safety of human life at sea and environmental protection. Reductions in manning levels and in loading and unloading times, coupled with increased vessel speed, have greatly increased the workload for seafarers.

2012/04/02
Committee: TRAN

Georgios TOUSSAS

Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 d (new)

(4d) The dangers are all the greater on cruise ships, because of the refusal of ship owners to include on crew manifests the general services personnel, that is to say, crew members responsible for accommodation, making up three- quarters of the crew on cruise ships. In this way, it is possible for ship owners to avoid paying wages on the basis of the collective agreement of the ship’s flag state and instead to pay the extremely low wages of the countries of origin of these crew members, who, in many cases, are forced to rely on passenger tips as their sole source of income. In this way, crew members with no proper maritime training who provide general services on board are falling victim to the most cynical exploitation by international human traffickers and cruise ship business groups. Furthermore, this poses an enormous danger to the safety of the lives of passengers and crew, as shown by the recent disastrous incidents involving the ‘Costa Concordia’ and ‘Costa Allegra’ cruise ships, both belonging to ‘Costa Cruises’, a subsidiary of the Anglo- American ‘Carnival’ corporation.

2012/04/02
Committee: TRAN

Georgios TOUSSAS

Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 e (new)

(4e) Improvement of maritime training on cruise ships must be accompanied by scientifically documented changes in vessel design so as to improve vessel safety and prevent accidents at sea.

2012/04/02
Committee: TRAN

Georgios TOUSSAS

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5

(5) At the Manila Conference the State- parties intended, amongst others, to set objective limits to the exceptions to the minimum rest hours for watchkeeping personnel and seafarers with designated safety, security and prevention of pollution related tasks. Also such new provisions should be integrated into EUthe law. However, they should respect the provisions on hours of rest applicable to seafarers under Council Directives 1999/63/EC of 21 June 1999 and 199910/13/EC of 16 February 2009. Furthermore, the faculty of authorising exceptions should be limited in terms of maximum duration, frequency and scope. Provisions to this effect should be introduced in the directive of the EU Member States. Compulsory rest hours must apply not only to watch-keeping personnel but to the entire crew and all specialist categories of seafarers, including deck hands, engine-room hands and personnel providing general services, since all members of the ship’s crew have responsibilities related to protection, safety, pollution prevention and fire- fighting and evacuation drill. Furthermore, the faculty of authorising exceptions should be limited in terms of maximum duration, frequency and scope. Provisions to this effect should be introduced in the directive. Increased manning levels in accordance with actual needs will help to ensure strict adherence to and implementation of international conventions concerning hours of work and rest for seafarers.

2012/04/02
Committee: TRAN

Georgios TOUSSAS